tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33158873557116115172024-02-19T08:53:33.129-08:00Don't Print That!Don't Print That!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03291253339396966499noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315887355711611517.post-53966720784988619022010-04-28T11:40:00.000-07:002010-04-28T13:56:17.569-07:00Born in the U.S.A.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogd7klQEjDk_oJAb_zH3NXgIp1rq5ESeFsm9wH8JXVk3T6045i4EAKt9xncX8mIYXpRpiDdTkXv_HpHl-PFwCDF5A75xKj16lEgEl7n2xLZl93vMe2zrvGweI-CiWj4JhbYm3ja9hLUM/s1600/Donnaphoto.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogd7klQEjDk_oJAb_zH3NXgIp1rq5ESeFsm9wH8JXVk3T6045i4EAKt9xncX8mIYXpRpiDdTkXv_HpHl-PFwCDF5A75xKj16lEgEl7n2xLZl93vMe2zrvGweI-CiWj4JhbYm3ja9hLUM/s200/Donnaphoto.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465294642171337202" border="0" /></a><br /> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>353</o:Words> <o:characters>2014</o:Characters> <o:company>Youth News Service</o:Company> <o:lines>16</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>2473</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>11.1280</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotshowrevisions/> <w:donotprintrevisions/> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:usemarginsfordrawinggridorigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Times New Roman"; panose-1:0 2 2 6 3 5 4 5 2 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Courier10 BT"; mso-font-alt:"Times New Roman"; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:modern; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:135 0 0 0 27 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Courier10 BT";} table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-parent:""; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Congratulations to Sandra Bullock re her new baby boy.<span style=""> </span>According to news reports, Louis Bullock was born in New Orleans and adopted by Ms. Bullock in January.<span style=""> </span>With all the attention on foreign adoptions these days it’s marvelous to see a celebrity respond to a child in our own backyard.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">My husband and I had a two-year-old blond, blue-eyed daughter when we adopted a bi-racial boy and girl in the early 70s.<span style=""> </span>People stared at us and asked personal questions that were intrusive and rude, “Where were they born?<span style=""> </span>Do you know anything about their background?”<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We politely responded that Elizabeth and John were born in Los Angeles and that’s all we shared with strangers.<span style=""> </span>We had limited information about their biological parents as records were sealed in those days and L.A. County Department of Children’s Services only provided brief knowledge – both were healthy, alert and ready to be placed in a loving home. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In the late 70s fewer couples applied to adopt children born in the U.S.<span style=""> </span>The “crack” pandemic hit urban neighborhoods and women under the horrific influence of drugs gave birth to babies with serious health issues ranging from mental retardation, physical defects and severe emotional disorders.<span style=""> </span>Babies placed in foster care waiting for adoption languished for years in institutions and group homes as families looked to Korea and other Asian outposts for infants.<span style=""> </span>Single women and gay couples were denied the right to adopt a child in this country so they turned to agencies in China where baby girls were readily available.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Today, there are more than 500,000 children growing up in foster care in this country.<span style=""> </span>Substance abuse and HIV among pregnant women has substantially declined.<span style=""> </span>Single men and women and gay couples can adopt infants and older children from public and private agencies but they continue to reach out to Asia, Latin America, Africa and Eastern Europe.<span style=""> </span>Families adopting Russian born children are not told the truth about the mother’s prenatal alcohol abuse. One adoptive mother went so far as to return a child<span style=""> </span>with severe psychological problems to Russia without adult supervision on the long flight home.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Madonna, Angelina and Brad, Meg Ryan and others have the resources to provide excellent health care, a superb education and a nurturing environment for their adopted children but they should look closer to home for a child in our welfare system eager to be part of a family.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment--> <span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" ></span><!--EndFragment-->Don't Print That!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03291253339396966499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315887355711611517.post-25816413425699449732010-04-20T17:17:00.000-07:002010-04-20T17:24:58.101-07:00A Familiar Face in the CrowdI watched Jerry Brown standing in the middle of the theater lobby all by himself. I waited to see if a campaign"handler" joined him but no one appeared by his side. He looked uncomfortable as guests mingled in the large crowd greeting one another. This was a night of gaiety -- 62nd independence celebration of the State of Israel. Finally, I walked over to him, "Hello, Jerry, you don't remember me, I worked on your campaign when you ran for community college board."<br /><br />"Good to see you, not many people worked on that campaign."<br /><br />The solitary candidate for Governor of California appeared the same to me as he did in the 70s, alone in a crowd, few people recognized him. He looks just like his father, the late Governor Pat Brown, yet he exudes none of the warmth or social skills that people admired in Brown senior. <br /><br />Jerry needs to loosen up, extend a hearty handshake, a pat on the back or he'll have few voters campaigning for him again.Don't Print That!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03291253339396966499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315887355711611517.post-23364175817657581342010-04-13T09:56:00.000-07:002010-04-13T16:02:25.182-07:00Paradise or Perfidy?<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">There’s no recession in San Francisco.<span style=""> </span>Last weekend I drove down the hill from elegant Pacific Heights to upscale Chestnut street, and then a short distance to the newly-renovated arts and culture Presidio.<span style=""> I smiled at </span>“foodies” lugging bags of fruits and vegetables from the Embarcadero farmer’s market then watched crowds milling in Union Square waiting for the cable car to Ghirardelli Square for a chocolate bar.<span style=""> </span>So many choices in this sparkling emerald city.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">Gentrification made its mark --<span style=""> </span>Victorian homes in the Haight have been treated to a fresh coat of paint and brightly trimmed front doors.<span style=""> </span>Where’s the smell of incense and pot?<span style=""> </span>It’s still a mix of leftover hippie 60s along with moms pushing $800 strollers to nearby Golden Gate Park.<span style=""> </span>I gazed at parents loading babies into car seats in super size BMWs while their golden retrievers swiftly scrambled between the two children ( a perfect family for a Silicon Valley venture capitalist).<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">Local pride and memory lingers in each community.<span style=""> </span>Stinky fish trails out the door of restaurants in Chinatown while elders smoke in front of shops selling “authentic” Chinese trinkets made in India.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">The shimmering Golden Gate Bridge links the city to Marin County where million dollar A-frames stack up the hillside overlooking snug harbors with impeccable yachts.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">But there’s more to the “city by the bay.”<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p>Forget cappuccinos and croissants in the Mission or Potrero Hill -- homeless encampments in doorways, worldly possessions stuffed in plastic bags piled high in shopping carts and those fortunate enough to get off the street for a night can get a room in rundown hotels.<span style=""> </span>From former Mayor Willie Brown to current Mayor Gavin Newsome the landscape in downtrodden enclaves of the city haven’t benefited from the dot.com boom.<span style=""> </span>Members of San Francisco’s social and political elite have geographic amnesia, a tradition that lingers from one generation to the next.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">I left my heart in San Francisco, not.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><!--EndFragment--> </p>Don't Print That!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03291253339396966499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315887355711611517.post-68413504583639873252010-03-31T15:38:00.000-07:002010-03-31T15:49:49.173-07:00Locke High School Students Defy Stereotypes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqha2u7jd4VvammDUnYcwJVAJSHvaQ4nOIJEpIuK32kAn3vob2AChCG_KTMRCTizmSR_HLPn09SRV6Jd105GZM1DfJtAS0lmW0cTKyjct4X96UpjVJrGsUvJWEFJBcg7huRp06eSHz63g/s1600/23531_381449458366_48834193366_3989515_4269103_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqha2u7jd4VvammDUnYcwJVAJSHvaQ4nOIJEpIuK32kAn3vob2AChCG_KTMRCTizmSR_HLPn09SRV6Jd105GZM1DfJtAS0lmW0cTKyjct4X96UpjVJrGsUvJWEFJBcg7huRp06eSHz63g/s320/23531_381449458366_48834193366_3989515_4269103_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454931762759669538" border="0" /></a><br /><br />February 2002, L.A. Youth writer Bianca Gallegos investigates Locke High School, a campus in need of attention.<br /><br />Some of L.A. Youth’s most closely read investigative articles are about schools. Readers alert us to problems on their campuses, or we hear stories about something that seems amiss, as in the case of Locke High School. Teen writer Bianca Gallegos, a senior at Marshall High School in leafy Los Feliz, was outraged that two LAUSD high schools could be so far apart in academic achievement, safety, graduation rate, etc.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">“Teachers don't teach. Kids sneak textbooks out of the class. The best students leave and the worst students transfer in—that's how things have been at Locke High School in Watts, one of the most troubled schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Senior Lucia Ortiz described classes taught by substitutes, or by teachers who didn't bother with lessons. Other students told her that some teachers slept in class or talked on their cell phones.”</span><br /><br />February 2010. Teacher Jerica Coffey invited L.A. Youth editors Mike Fricano and Laura Lee to speak to students in her English class at Locke High School #3. That first visit grew to a core group of young writers sharing their stories of growing up in South Central L.A. They defied the stereotypes as disengaged gangbangers and dropouts with compelling narratives about their goals for college and careers, providing a better life for their parents and changing the negative images of impoverished black and Latino teens by mainstream media. Covette, Gabriel, Yesenia, Maritza and Frank published their stories in our March issue.<br /><br />We celebrated their achievements with a “blow-out” party – balloons, flowers, speeches and each student reading aloud their personal story. The school auditorium was filled with parents, friends, teachers from nearby middle schools, siblings and the L.A. Youth staff.<br /><br />The group of five expanded to 12 eager writers in the past week and a commitment to meet every Thursday from 3 – 6 pm in Ms. Coffey’s classroom. Mike and Laura are reaching out to the community for a passionate journalist to share his/her time once a week at Locke so that every teen gets to experience a one-on-one relationship with an adult editor.<br /><br />We’re a necessary idea.Don't Print That!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03291253339396966499noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315887355711611517.post-7070088898019525662010-03-24T15:30:00.000-07:002010-03-24T15:35:49.856-07:00Protect Children in Foster CareL.A. Times columnist Tim Rutten is outraged at the number of deaths of children in the L.A. County foster care system. So am I. <br /><br />With a $2 billion budget, more than 7,000 employees and the highly experienced Trish Ploehn, Director of Dept. of Children and Family Services, overseeing the agency, where’s the safety net for kids? The tragedy of childhood death is a larger social issue, addressing individuals in their environment with layers of poverty, addiction and domestic violence.<br /><br />Parents have a duty to protect their children from harm. Children enter the child welfare system unprepared for the onslaught of social workers, police officers, mental health professionals, lawyers, judges and others. Their role is to protect the child. Child welfare practitioners and policymakers must be more responsive to the communities they serve. Private caregiver agencies must be monitored with more frequency and closed for even minor infractions.<br /><br />I want social workers to be more aggressive in investigating and removing children from parents, foster parents and other caregivers with the first sign of abuse. And, I want child welfare workers and parents to access family support services and reunification where a positive outcome is possible.<br /><br />L.A. County Dept. of Children and Family Services reduced staff and cut support services due to the budget crisis. The Board of Supervisors need to rescind the order for budget cuts. The county needs to hire more social workers, lighten the case worker load and provide more staff training before another child dies.<br /><br />I’ve worked with foster youth who’ve had a positive experience with a social worker. As the publisher of L.A. Youth, the newspaper by and about teens, I’m extremely proud of our special project giving youth in the foster care system an opportunity to tell their personal stories. Through the Foster Youth Writing and Education Project, which began in 2003, we provide foster youth an opportunity to reflect on their experiences and a forum to voice their concerns, while also informing readers about the system and the challenges foster youth face every day.Don't Print That!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03291253339396966499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315887355711611517.post-61059696385071440382010-03-16T11:01:00.000-07:002010-03-16T11:13:40.052-07:00A Reunion<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgfoDrYiBaZFWAOzVqP-Su8Qk_jqiekoKMUiKjmd8u23CGeRd-5f4U9HX_jmW2hBH8dX9FYzton93Ijarr63zQ8CxilMrzoZmBnG8YVZCASdw6s7m_yrfov0kzvErt6hHE_1AuCAckz4/s1600-h/IMG00027.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgfoDrYiBaZFWAOzVqP-Su8Qk_jqiekoKMUiKjmd8u23CGeRd-5f4U9HX_jmW2hBH8dX9FYzton93Ijarr63zQ8CxilMrzoZmBnG8YVZCASdw6s7m_yrfov0kzvErt6hHE_1AuCAckz4/s320/IMG00027.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449296022392013602" border="0" /></a><br />“We need progressive health care, tax reform, creative social welfare, job opportunities.” All part of Obama’s 2008 campaign – not! These were 29-year-old Cathy O’Neill’s messages to voters in 1972 as she campaigned for the 23rd District State Senate seat.<br /><br />I was part of her ambitious and enthusiastic cadre of volunteers in the general and primary elections. We set up campaign headquarters in her neighbor’s garage in Pacific Palisades. Most of us were young mothers, toting diaper bags and strollers in the crowded space. We stuffed envelopes, walked precincts, made phone calls (with crying babies in the background), urging voters to endorse the bright, visionary candidate.<br /><br />Cathy, a young social worker and political activist, lost the election by a few hundred votes.<br /><br />Losing the election didn’t stop Cathy. She went on to found the Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children, a leading United States-based advocacy organization focusing on the needs of refugee women and displaced families. Op-eds frequently appeared with her byline in national and international publications. President Clinton appointed her Director of the United Nations Information Center in Washington, D.C.<br /><br />Sunday afternoon we held a campaign reunion in the same Palisades home, this time indoors, continuing the “potluck” campaign tradition. How did 38 years passed so quickly? We shared photos of grandchildren, compared Medicare plans, chatted about our winding-down careers and complained about the lack of social reform. Cathy joined us late in the afternoon having spent the past few days in a hospital ICU. Her loving husband, noted journalist and author Richard Reeves, pushed her wheelchair up the stairs while we clapped and cheered at her tenacity to party while immobile and whispered voice. Multiple surgeries in the past 10 years, followed by other complications would depress anyone, yet this vibrant woman managed to join in the laughter as we told campaign stories -- hors d’oeuvres (Lipton onion soup blended with sour cream and a bag of chips served 50 people at one fundraiser) her campaign wardrobe limited to three suits and how she defended her position as a Catholic pro-choice while under attack from local churches.<br /><br />Cathy never compromised her values, unlike many of our current elected officials. She paved the way for women to seek office and challenged the status quo. The same issues she was passionate about are shouted by community organizers at rallies, in churches, at backyard barbeques, and on the Internet, etc. Sadly, we haven’t made much progress since 1972.<br /><br />Cathy’s legacy is extraordinary.Don't Print That!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03291253339396966499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315887355711611517.post-39838977512956087252010-03-03T11:30:00.000-08:002010-03-03T11:36:10.512-08:00A Modest ManTributes to movie executive <a href="http://www.thewrap.com/ind-column/longtime-studio-executive-gareth-wigan-dies-78-14216">Gareth Wigan</a> filled the pages of Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, New York Times and international entertainment blogs when he passed away Feb. 13. He was a highly respected producer, studio executive and production chief at Sony Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox and partnered with Alan Ladd, Jr., Lucy Fisher and others.<br />I celebrate his life and contributions as a dedicated volunteer and strategic advisor to L.A. Youth. We met last year when he called to inquire about getting involved with us, not just sitting on the board to raise funds, but to participate in day-to-day programs we offer young journalists.<br />Last night there was a memorial service for Gareth at Sony Pictures. Tributes by top entertainment talent, clips from his many films and amusing stories by his children brought me to tears. <br />He never mentioned his distinguished career. We were too busy talking politics, L.A.’s high school drop-out crisis, his love of opera and my constant angst about raising money for L.A. Youth. We even branched out to share notes about our families. <br />Bluster and ego so often displayed by Hollywood executives was not his style. We will miss his quiet dignity and contribution to L.A. Youth.Don't Print That!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03291253339396966499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315887355711611517.post-26577033993046618742010-02-23T14:58:00.000-08:002010-02-23T15:00:05.745-08:00"Penny Wise, Pound Foolish"1. Do you want to see more teens roaming the streets without supervision, joining gangs, creating unsafe neighborhoods? <br />2. Do you care that more children and youth are obese and at high-risk for serious health issues? <br />3. Do you enjoy swimming laps in the city pools?<br /><br />Check off “not applicable” if you live on the Westside or other upscale neighborhood. These issues don’t impact your life. Most homes in Beverly Hills or San Marino have pools in the backyard (some have tennis courts, too). Children who live in these neighborhoods have after school and summer activities -- private college prep tutors, gymnastics class and music lessons or lounging on the couch plugged in to an iPhone and laptop. <br /><br />But childhood obesity, nowhere safe to play or cool off on a hot summer day are crisis problems for thousands of families in Los Angeles because Mayor Villaraigosa has cut jobs and programs in L.A. City parks and recreation centers.<br /><br />The city has a huge budget deficit. Cutting these critical “safety nets” will cost taxpayers more money as youth with nowhere to recreate join gangs, commit crimes and are confined in over-crowded juvenile detention facilities. Health insurance rates will rise with the increase of juvenile diabetes and ultimately the city will need to hire more police (or pay millions in overtime) to combat neighborhood crime from aimless teenagers.<br /><br />This is a short quiz but the answers have long-term consequences.Don't Print That!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03291253339396966499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315887355711611517.post-17734535527395231662010-02-22T10:37:00.000-08:002010-02-22T10:40:00.471-08:00A Special TeacherWith more than 20 years in the trenches with teen journalism I still get teary-eyed when I read a note like the one here from a teacher at Locke High School in South L.A. L.A. Youth Editors Mike Fricano and Laura Lee visited her class last week and plan to continue weekly visits. She brought a few students to our Saturday editorial meeting. <br /><br />Locke has been in turmoil since it opened in 1967. It’s one of the lowest achieving schools in California. Racial tension between black and Latino students brought police in riot gear to the campus to break up fights in May 2008. Faculty and administrative turnover is a revolving door. On September 11, 2007, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) approved a motion to turn over control of Locke High School to Green Dot Public Schools, an outside charter management organization.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">“ I just wanted to say thank you for letting me crash the Saturday meeting. As a teacher who has committed my life to working in some of the most disenfranchised urban communities, I have only worked in severely segregated schools. My experience bringing students to the Saturday meeting and hearing such generative discourse representing students from diverse walks of life was inspiring beyond words. It made me think a lot about the importance of integrated schools. My students rarely get an opportunity to interact with folks who are not Black or Latino, nor do they often have the chance to interact with young people who are not living in poverty. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">At the risk of sounding overly romantic, I think that LA Youth has the unique opportunity to bring a democratic experience to youth that they are not getting in school. What a rare and sacred thing in today's society. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Thank you so much for making the effort to include my students in your </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">community. I think they felt intimidated, yet empowered by the experience. It means a lot to them and to our entire community! In fact, Frank's mother has told everyone she knows that her baby is going to be published in a newspaper. For a student like Frank, this is one of the few times in his life that he feels a sense of academic identity. This is why his mother could not believe that he was writing a piece for LA Youth. I am grateful for your time and interest in their stories.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">In community,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Jerica Coffey</span>Don't Print That!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03291253339396966499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315887355711611517.post-68660148627024486012010-02-12T20:25:00.000-08:002010-02-16T13:28:13.094-08:00A Tale of Two Cities<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_H5i43mm-KoxrVR6X20cv505-KtKHfL0pEUsL4TQ3-Hv0Dkj4_6eeID7RXrU93ueXo-t66KOv2v6t-5-5z1lrQ0roX5hQNsdD4Q6ocfcwfQ86XX1ikQDsw4H32K3jaBTCKZh_f88MII/s1600-h/IMG00022.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_H5i43mm-KoxrVR6X20cv505-KtKHfL0pEUsL4TQ3-Hv0Dkj4_6eeID7RXrU93ueXo-t66KOv2v6t-5-5z1lrQ0roX5hQNsdD4Q6ocfcwfQ86XX1ikQDsw4H32K3jaBTCKZh_f88MII/s320/IMG00022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438955955546627138" border="0" /></a><br />The first time I vacationed in Palm Springs I was 12 years old. It was the only place my family could afford -- the prices are low in summer as the temperature climbs to 115 degrees. Palm Springs is located in Coachella Valley, about 100 miles east of Los Angeles. The desert is surrounded by the San Jacinto Mountains. In winter you can swim laps in a heated pool <div> and look up at snow-capped mountains. Not far from Palm Springs is Joshua Tree National Park, 800,00 acres of massive granite formations, prickly trees, the San Andreas Fault, coyotes and jackrabbits.<br /><br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> Today, Palm Springs is home to aging boomers, retirees, a large gay community, casinos, numerous golf courses and the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation. On the north side of the 10 is Desert Hot Springs, described by locals as "Desperate Hot Springs," home to once fashionable spas, now swarming with meth labs, headquarters for notorious gangs and families struggling to survive above the poverty level. In March 2009 local and federal law enforcement agencies busted these depots of illegal activities.<br /><br />I shop at Von's, corner of Gene Autry Rd. and Highway 111, in Palm Springs. Standing near the check-out I noticed a tall, glass cabinet with cartons of cigarettes, packs of Nicorette and large containers of Similac (powder baby formula). "Why is Similac under lock and key?" I asked the cashier.<br /><br />"People steal the baby formula and use it as a "filler" for cocaine."<br /><br /></div><div> </div><div>Two towns in the Coachella Valley, four miles apart, yet galaxies removed in housing, education, and culture. How did this happen and will the balance be restored or will the infection spread?</div>Don't Print That!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03291253339396966499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315887355711611517.post-88482726725308895102010-02-10T12:27:00.000-08:002010-02-10T12:31:21.497-08:00Trying to Survive Without a PhoneMy friend, former teacher Ken Lawrence, cannot afford an iPhone, Blackberry or any other mobile device. He’s disabled, survives on a frugal budget, and his lifeline to doctors and 911 has been out of order for more than three weeks. When a life-threatening asthma attack occurred in the middle of the night, he reached for his land phone -- no dial tone. <br /><br />Ken’s neighbors alerted me the next day. I called AT&T hoping to speak to a real live person. No such luck, there’s only a recording with a long menu for services. “Our first available appointment for service is February 1.” I hollered back at the recorded voice, “that’s over a week, he’s disabled in a wheelchair.” <br /><br />“Thank you for calling AT&T,” was the final message.<br /><br />The repairman finally arrived Feb. 1. He moved cables, climbed the telephone pole and tested the phone with various devices. “The phone’s working,” he reported and left.<br /><br />An hour later it was out of order and still doesn’t work.Don't Print That!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03291253339396966499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315887355711611517.post-59972045802941490432010-02-05T14:40:00.000-08:002010-02-05T14:44:19.631-08:00Superbowl Surprise!Eating healthy is a challenge this weekend for Superbowl fans. If you’re the party host Sunday, thrill your guests with Kimchi Chicken Stew, Quinoa with Grapes, Sesame Chicken Salad and Broccoli Puree. Food guru Michael Pollan would approve, you’d be following his “Food Rules.”<br /><br />I know, you’re thinking, “Yuck!” But you’ll love these dishes created by L.A. Youth’s teen writers as part of our healthy eating package for the March issue. Those nasty nachos loaded with orange, slimy cheese will sit on your hips for days. And the stark, white sour cream dip is definitely a no-no with those “double-dipper” carrot sticks. Remember, the guy on the couch will dip in, take a bite, return for another dip. Did he sanitize his hands?<br /><br />About those ribs and slaw…..you’ll consume 7,000 calories with sweet b-b-que sauce and tons of mayonnaise burying the cabbage. How about ice tea instead of 4-5 beers?<br /><br />Let me know if you’re inspired to follow my advice. And, happy game day.Don't Print That!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03291253339396966499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315887355711611517.post-24677035949354154782010-02-03T15:09:00.000-08:002010-02-03T15:16:00.252-08:00Youth Media Gets Deserved AttentionDear Friends,<br /><br />I haven’t forgotten you, been soooo busy with new projects for L.A. Youth; watching endless hours of TV coverage of Haiti earthquake and aftermath; business trip to New York; and, raking leaves and other debris in my backyard after the deluge of rain 10 days ago.<br /><br />Good news……L.A. Youth was awarded a $100,000 matching grant from the Challenge Fund for Journalism VI, a collaborative of The Ford Foundation, McCormick Foundation and Ethics & Excellence in Journalism Foundation. Gotta hustle to identify new donors and diversify our funding base. <br /><br />Speaking of partnerships, the Youth Media L.A. Collaborative met Jan. 29 in our office to officially launch a partnership among local youth media organizations. Those of us working with young people in print, video, radio and the Web will share resources and collaborate on community reporting projects. Thanks to The McCormick Foundation for bringing us together and supporting the pilot project with a $50,000 grant.<br /><br />Stay tuned for more exciting updates in a few days.Don't Print That!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03291253339396966499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315887355711611517.post-39894224669548533202010-01-06T14:42:00.000-08:002010-01-06T15:58:23.096-08:00Surviving and Thriving in Hard Times<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTI0kOGmZ4M7PTmGpe7CG0mGt4c36JsNKKAkEVoQyyIBlLNeC5qd1-bvc6nV9G8jKwIJWtPQ48wjHVXplsq7fb-LoKsqA5N1OmSOuJfip0jq4oaIRosLvpDVe0uK9mXL8jEaYucucsBU/s1600-h/Firstcover.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTI0kOGmZ4M7PTmGpe7CG0mGt4c36JsNKKAkEVoQyyIBlLNeC5qd1-bvc6nV9G8jKwIJWtPQ48wjHVXplsq7fb-LoKsqA5N1OmSOuJfip0jq4oaIRosLvpDVe0uK9mXL8jEaYucucsBU/s320/Firstcover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423761531053818066" border="0" /></a><br />As a couple of friends and I cruised down an alley to find a spot to kick back and smoke a joint, we saw a head with long blond hair pop up from a dumpster. In front of the dumpster was an old 10-speed that had been put together piece by piece. Every piece on the bike was a different color. Someone said, “Oh! It’s only one of those dumpster divers.” Then I realized that it was my mother. I told my friends, “Hey! That’s my mom. Turn around!”<br /><br />My friends knew my mom was homeless, so they said, “Cool. Maybe she’ll smoke a joint with us!” So we turned around. Now, it had been about two and a half months since I last saw or heard from her. I went through the whole, “Hey! Long time, no see” bit. After the small talk, I realized there was not much else to say. We sparked up a joint and offered it to her. She said, “Geez! That’s a big joint!” Then she told me how she didn’t feel like it because she was too amped.<br /><br />My mom is a speed addict. Whenever she has money it almost always goes for drugs. Once in a while, she gets a motel room but that never lasts long because the drugs run out and so does the money. My mother is also a dumpster diver. She digs in dumpsters for food, clothes, things to recycle and anything else she can find. On Christmas I got a bag filled with a fluorescent pink Frisbee, silver rings, a plastic watch and other fun things. All of this stuff came from dumpsters. But I don’t care because I love her and it’s the thought that counts. To prove it, I wear all the rings and sometimes even the watch.<br /><br />The writer was 16-year-old Julie Smit, whose moving story of her mother’s 15-year addiction to drugs and homelessness appeared in L.A. Youth in 1994.<br /><br />This wasn’t the kind of story found in a traditional high school newspaper.<br /><br />High school journalism has been losing ground since the 1970s due to education budget cuts. The student press was dealt another blow in 1988 when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that administrators had the right to censor articles intended for publication in school newspapers.<br /><br />On January 11, 1988 I decided to start a teen newspaper. With no money, no office space or even a computer, I gathered a dozen high school youngsters and told them we are going to put out a newspaper they could call their own. I appointed myself publisher, editor, head fundraiser and chief delivery person.<br /><br />In our first year, we published two issues, circulation 2,500. Twenty-two years later we are publishing six issues annually and circulating 70,000 copies. We distribute the paper, free, to 1,300 teachers in middle and senior high schools throughout greater Los Angeles.<br /><br />L.A. Youth’s mission is to fill at least some of the gap created by the demise of the student press. We offer teens a haven, a place where they’re encouraged to express their opinions. But I also want the paper to continually remind policy makers of the plight of kids who are marginalized in foster care and elsewhere. And I want to make mainstream media aware of kids who live with trauma and violence on a daily basis.<br /><br />In their private lives teens write lively, expressive thoughts every day. They scribble in diaries or share their innermost secrets with friends and strangers by posting them on blogs, MySpace and Facebook. Some of the pieces we publish, like Jessica Bernstein’s account of her nose job, require an amazing degree of self-confidence. Jessica interviewed her plastic surgeon and posed for before-and-after photographs. Sherry Lee, in a piece entitled “My So-Called Boobs,” wrote good-naturedly about the advantages of small breasts: she could hug people close to her, run around without a bra and sleep face down! They’re definitely L.A. Youth originals.<br /><br />Marvin Novelo decided that he wanted to write about being gay:<br /><br />When seventh grade began and I was 12 years old, I was very much aware that I was gay. It was the little things, such as how I felt when I saw guys in the locker room. I resented being gay and I wanted to think it was a phase I would grow out of. In church, my pastor would explain how homosexuality is an “abomination of nature, the sin that is the worst next to murder.”<br /><br />At Byrd Middle School the motto should have been, “No fags allowed.” People were yelling, “Look! That guy’s a queer!”<br /><br />Toward the end of ninth grade, I was jumped on the way home by a group of boys who kicked me in the stomach and head. No one helped me.<br /><br /> The role of adult editors is to coach and nurture the young talents at L.A. Youth, to recognize the value of their ideas and guide each through weeks or months of writing and re-writing until a compelling story emerges. It can be a slow, arduous journey, the teen writer sitting side-by-side with an editor, carefully scrolling through paragraphs on a computer screen and then trying to make them better. A few stories have taken up to a year before they’re ready for publication. But I tell myself it is worth the wait; after all, it takes courage to write something that you know thousands of readers will be judging.<br /><br /> L.A. Youth tilts strongly toward personal journalism. But we don’t avoid controversy and we are proud of the investigative articles that our young writers have produced over the years. <br /><br /> Some of our investigations result from a concern that when awful things happen to teens, almost no one seems to pay attention. Teen staffers Jennifer Clark and Katrina Gibson began one such project by prowling through records at the Los Angeles County Coroner's office. Their assignment was to reconstruct the lives of young people killed by violence during a one-month period in the county.<br /><br />We knew that most would be homicide victims, their lives ended early by guns and knives in gang initiations, scuffles with police, drive-by shootings and so on. L.A. Youth would try to put faces on some of the victims, whose deaths generally went unnoticed by the outside community.<br /><br />Morgue records yielded home addresses and next of kin information for the victims. Jennifer and Katrina sent off letters to parents or other survivors, asking for photos of the teens and anecdotes about their lives. We would publish their obituaries.<br /><br />As our readership expanded and our journalism got better, we made a concerted effort to reach the neediest teens. We had to build relationships with three overlooked groups:<br /><br /> --Young people living on the streets. They lived with trauma and violence on a daily basis, often selling themselves into prostitution and becoming addicted to drugs. They were so marginalized that no one gave them a second thought.<br /><br /> --The hundreds of foster care children moving in and out of group homes or other shelters. Most were refugees from abusive or broken families. Some were so emotionally scarred that they retreated into silence.<br /><br /> --Teens afflicted with various mental disorders. The lucky ones had parents able to afford therapy, medications and special schooling. Others, including those who found themselves on the streets or funneled into foster care, might or might not receive appropriate treatment.<br /><br /> We set out to find writers in the three groups whose first-person stories would convey the reality of their lives. Our intent was to influence policy makers with the power to improve services for these teens, and to remind the mainstream media that they existed.<br /><br />Our teen writers walk in the door questioning adult assumptions and stay long enough to challenge our values with their honest and sometimes brutal writing. Here is what resulted when they decided to create “The Teen Commandments: 10 Things We Hate About Mom and Dad (and how to change them)”:<br /><br /> --Have meals with us at least once a week. Talk instead of watching TV or reading during the meal. <br />--Don’t compare us with other people. Don’t say, “Why can’t you get A’s like your sister?”<br />--Don’t pretend to be a teenager. It’s weird when parents use teen slang or try to dress like us. You don’t have to act like us to communicate with us.<br />--Tell us the reasons for the rules you set.<br />--Don’t tell us how our lives will turn out. We have to figure some things out by ourselves.<br />--Respect us as we are. ‘Don’t insult our likes and dislikes. Show some interest in the things we like.<br />--Listen to us instead of lecturing.<br />--Suggest activities we can do together, but don’t force anyone.<br />--Encourage us in our activities, but don’t put too much pressure on us if we don’t win.<br />--Look at us and tell us that you love us.<br /><br />These kids don’t pull punches no matter what the Supreme Court decided.<br /><br /> EndDon't Print That!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03291253339396966499noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315887355711611517.post-40591772966404269122009-12-16T16:50:00.000-08:002009-12-16T16:52:31.068-08:00Multi-cultural food feastWe’re eating potato latkes, brisket, turkey and gumbo with a side of mac ‘n cheese Xmas day at my daughter-in-law’s parents’ house. It’s our multi-racial family celebration –Jewish, black, Asian relatives gather ‘round the table for blessings and songs, spinning dreidels. With full bellies we stagger into the living room for board games and dancing to rappers, 60s rockers and a bit of jazz.<br /><br />We’re not a Norman Rockwell portrait of post-war Los Angeles. We’re at the intersection of the new American family blended with my family from Eastern Europe, the Creole, Louisiana-born great grandmother to my grandsons, the auntie from Korea and whatever else fits in the “melting pot” of a large extended family.<br /><br />Food is a friendly way of sharing cultures. I’ve hosted Passover meals and my grandson’s baptism luncheon. Religious beliefs are just as important as race and ethnicity when it comes to establishing one’s identity. My black daughter-in-law and I go all over the map when we chat about our different holidays and raising children in a country where there’s still a racial divide. When she and my son were expecting their first child I wanted to bond with her so she’d know I’d be a perfect grandmother. I invited her to brunch on a Sunday afternoon. I took her to Leimert Park, an old black neighborhood in South Los Angeles with African shops, men playing drums on the sidewalk and soul food in the local restaurant. We strolled for about 20 minutes then she turned to me and said, “I never come to this neighborhood. Can we go to Canter’s, that Jewish restaurant on Fairfax and eat bagels?”<br /><br />Like I said, my understanding about race and ethnicity are best served at the dinner table.Don't Print That!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03291253339396966499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315887355711611517.post-89992422237833838062009-12-10T12:24:00.001-08:002009-12-10T12:28:36.825-08:00Re-connecting with old friends<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0x6EW-hvGCfRQiv0xkzqH7z12nVrNQwFMrXsV0IIr-gVQYCs4-hyRgUXBCuZMnVV-lXcUFGPphZEKfnSwtdehrNt5RRnAijtU7sZSZIhYK_hs0rZpXUNcmTMYjRtY0q_HlNWcO5-09c/s1600-h/StaffphotoforDave.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0x6EW-hvGCfRQiv0xkzqH7z12nVrNQwFMrXsV0IIr-gVQYCs4-hyRgUXBCuZMnVV-lXcUFGPphZEKfnSwtdehrNt5RRnAijtU7sZSZIhYK_hs0rZpXUNcmTMYjRtY0q_HlNWcO5-09c/s320/StaffphotoforDave.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413706987466328914" /></a><br /><br /><br />I get nostalgic this time of year for the teens I grew close to when they wrote for L.A. Youth. In L.A. Youth’s 22 years of publishing I’ve known hundreds (make that thousands) of teens – writers, illustrators, photographers – who joined the staff to share their personal story, or fueled by tenets of social justice, or just looking for a friendly place to hang out. These days I hear from many more young people than I used to (we’re on Facebook), “Are you still there?” <br /><br />“Yes, we’re here.” I assure them. “We’re thriving and surviving. How old are you?”<br /><br />“I’m 30 and wrote for the paper in the mid 90s.”<br /><br />“Eekk! That means I’m getting older, too.”<br /><br />When I hear the time frame it jogs my memory. I flashback to the face though not always the stories he or she wrote. “So what have you been doing since we last spoke?”<br /><br />The answers range from, “I’m in grad school,” to “working at a boring job to pay off student loans.” A few are roaming the world with a backpack and a Europass.<br /><br />“How many are working as journalists?” I’m often asked.<br /><br />“One or two is my standard answer.” Few teens look to a future career in a newsroom. More often they lean toward education or social service. Legal careers mean representing immigrant rights, not partnerships at prestigious law firms.<br /><br />There’s a sadness that comes over me when I hear from a few who are struggling with hardships – moving from shelter to shelter with an infant in tow; a Starbuck’s barrista earning low wages and sleeping on a friend’s couch; an emancipated foster youth kicked out of transitional living quarters for a series of transgressions. They share other tales of dysfunctional adulthood and all I can do is listen. <br /><br />Our annual holiday party is Dec. 19. I hug the alums that drop in and spend a few minutes admiring their mature faces and laughing about the good times when they were teenagers spending hours in my office. My memory rush is full in the holiday season.Don't Print That!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03291253339396966499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315887355711611517.post-66778379392273608852009-12-02T15:41:00.000-08:002009-12-02T15:43:01.038-08:00Don't Feed the Homeless!“Meet me at Third and Fairfax,” is the landmark sign in front of the Farmer’s Market. It’s a must-see on tourist maps, a great place for sampling ethnic food with a comfortable ambience to spend an afternoon. My office is three blocks east so I frequently meet colleagues for leisurely lunch and good conversation.<br /><br />Charlotte Gusay and I sat under the elm tree between The Gumbo Pot and the Pizzeria food stalls. My seafood gumbo was spicy and welcome on the cool fall day. The garden salad was sprinkled with roasted pecans, accompanied with a corn muffin. Quite a hardy lunch. Charlotte nibbled on her toasted chicken salad. <br /><br />We pushed aside our lunch trays and continued the conversation. A young man, mid-30s, clean shaven, casually dressed with a backpack slung over his shoulder approached us and inquired if he could have the remains of our lunch. “Absolutely, I responded.”<br /><br />He picked up our trays and walked to a nearby table. “You can’t eat that food,” the security guard sternly told the man.<br /><br />“I gave it to him,” retorted Charlotte, “we’re finished and he’s hungry.”<br /><br />“It’s against the Farmer’s Market rules, this is private property. He’s “panhandling” and we don’t allow that.<br /><br />“People are hungry,” I shouted at the guard as I jumped up from my seat. “He can eat at our table.”<br /><br />“No,” as he called for another guard.<br /><br />“Give me back my food and I’ll wrap it up for him,” I challenged.<br /><br />Again, “No, it’s against the rules.”<br /><br />By this time we were attracting attention from other customers. “Please give him my bottle of water,” said the elderly lady at the next table.<br /><br />The young man was insulted, clearly he was not used to a public display of his situation. He attempted to defend his rights and ward off the humiliation. To no avail. The guards escorted him out of the Farmer’s Market. A gentleman at the next table followed them to the street hoping to provide assistance to the homeless fellow. He, too, was not allowed to buy lunch at the Farmer’s Market for the young stranger. He gave him five dollars to buy lunch somewhere else.<br /><br />We were helpless as we watched the waitress remove food trays from the tables, all laden with enough leftovers to feed more than a dozen hungry people. I thought this is the season of giving.Don't Print That!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03291253339396966499noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315887355711611517.post-60793413780167131602009-11-19T11:25:00.000-08:002009-11-19T12:30:09.340-08:00Why students drop out of high schoolWhy do students drop out of school? We asked that question to four of our teen writers at our annual November roundtable for community leaders, policy wonks, business folks and others. The conversation was moderated by L.A. Times reporter Mitchell Landsberg and Compton School District Principal Dr. Sophia Theoharopoulus.<br /><br />The unanimous answer to the question was overcrowded classrooms and disengaged teachers. Ernesto spoke with enthusiasm about his charter school with 20-25 students in a class. Locke, his neighborhood high school, has a history of campus violence, alarming drop-out rate and constant turnover of teachers and administrators. Charmaine described moving from Gahr to Cerritos High School, both within blocks of each other. She said there’s less “drama” at Cerritos. I interpreted that to mean fewer fights, smaller classes, students eager to learn and college bound. Patricia dropped out of Compton High school when she struggled with algebra and no one offered her assistance. Her parents weren’t contacted by the district for 40 days. Now, Patricia is successfully completing high school at the small, well run Cesar Chavez Continuation High School and a teacher is providing guidance in her algebra class.<br /><br />The education crisis will get worse in the next few years. State budget cuts mean larger classes, teacher lay-offs and a dismal future for students on the edge of dropping out. Where will teens without a diploma find a job? How will they pay rent, buy food? Will crime increase in our communities? <br /><br />For teens to succeed it requires a partnership between parents, teachers and students. Everyone needs to take responsibility.Don't Print That!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03291253339396966499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315887355711611517.post-11642513779097746862009-11-12T14:55:00.000-08:002009-11-12T14:57:34.756-08:00Homeless for the HolidaysA former Microsoft executive is building hundreds of libraries in Africa. A group of dentists are volunteering services in Mexico. An outdoor recreation company is shipping dozens of tents to hurricane-ravaged areas in Southeast Asia. It all sounds benevolent. <br /><br />What about the families who lost their homes in foreclosure? Or the children who don’t qualify for Healthy Families or Medical because the single parent makes a few dollars over the financial limit? And what happens to the emancipating 18-year-old growing up in foster care who had a minor infraction and can’t move into transitional housing?<br /><br />We all make choices re donating time and money but the images from abroad tug at Americans with rapid fire response faster than portraits of friends and neighbors in dire circumstances.<br /><br />The holidays are upon us with food and clothing drives for the needy. Outside every Starbuck’s and restaurant someone is rattling coins in a paper cup. Do we turn away from disheveled, sour-smelling folks sitting on the sidewalk because it’s easier to send a gift to a faceless man, woman or child? I don’t have the answer. Do you?Don't Print That!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03291253339396966499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315887355711611517.post-43045018525512738822009-11-09T11:55:00.000-08:002009-11-09T11:56:59.573-08:00No "Safety Net" for TeensWe’re closing pages for the November issue. Presses roll on the 14th. A remarkable young woman wrote the cover story, “My American Dream,” the struggles of an undocumented immigrant and her extraordinary achievement, a scholarship to Loyola Marymount College in Los Angeles.<br /><br />The health care debate in Congress and across the country (more accurately, called, the ugly fight!) told from a teen’s perspective will blow you away. If you ask a teenager, “What’s your health insurance”? the response is, “ask my mom.” Well, 16-year-old Serli Portalogu takes the reader through her journey of health insurance, on and off for the past 13 years. She clearly describes being part of Healthy Families, a healthcare plan subsidized by the state of California for minors, the family’s years with Kaiser Permanente, the paperwork and financial challenges to have access to care and the lack of a “safety net” when her family doesn’t have health coverage.Don't Print That!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03291253339396966499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315887355711611517.post-66973835563221994942009-10-29T16:59:00.000-07:002009-10-29T17:02:21.131-07:00Courageous Women JournalistsLast night the International Women’s Media Foundation held its annual dinner at the Beverly Hills Hotel. It’s quite a gala, celebrity journalists from TV, Internet and print. Major L.A. philanthropists, j-school students, community leaders and other guests schmoozed re the demise of American media institutions. <br /><br />The organization honored four women journalists who have courageously reported on oppressive political leaders, political upheaval, abuse of women and other human rights issues in their countries. The reporters from Belarus and Cameroon were arrested for writing unflattering stories about the government. Armed soldiers destroyed their equipment and production studios and dragged them from their homes. The plea from the honorees was unanimous – American media must keep its eye on the globe not just when there’s a coup or assassination of a political leader. The Iranian journalist could not attend the event as she was recently released from jail and waiting for her husband to be released. The Israeli reporter travels in dangerous territory, from Jerusalem to Gaza and the West Bank, decades of reporting both sides -- the Palestinians and the Israelis.<br /><br />We hear little news about Belarus and Cameroon. The networks, cable stations, newspapers and radio send their correspondents to “hot spots,” where there’s gunfire, suicide bombers and kidnappings. Senior executives at media companies claim budget constraints prevent them from posting reporters in less volatile places. The “bean counters” control the flow of information to Americans and will continue to reduce the coverage of global events. No wonder we’re all turning to the Internet for timely information.Don't Print That!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03291253339396966499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315887355711611517.post-32528575681580906202009-10-26T14:53:00.000-07:002009-10-26T14:55:16.818-07:00Cops and Teens: Can We Talk?Los Angeles will have a new police chief this week. Chief Bratton is leaving Los Angeles to pursue other opportunities. Tensions between teenagers and cops are a familiar story. Teens are highly critical of police practices, from curfew enforcement to traffic stops and racial profiling. We’ve hosted sit-downs between teens and LAPD and teens and the Sheriff’s Dept. Transcripts from the sessions were published in L.A. Youth and posted on our website.<br /><br />The conversations don’t magically bridge the gap between our teen writers and readers but we like to think they at least humanize the participants on both sides. Several years ago L.A. Youth writer Richard Kwon interviewed then-Police Chief Bernard Parks. The conversation turned from teens’ driving habits to a personal tragedy that the chief had experienced. His 20-year-old granddaughter, Lori, had been the victim of a homicide. Richard reflected on their discourse:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I thought police officers pretended to be tough guys, but he was really honest with his answers. He’s still in pain about her death and haunted by it. His face showed signs of weariness but he was still smiling in the end. And so was I.</span><br /><br />We tried contacting Chief Bratton but he never responded to our request for an interview. Perhaps the next chief will reach out to teens and dialogue with us.Don't Print That!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03291253339396966499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315887355711611517.post-82294884178450069962009-10-23T13:48:00.000-07:002009-10-23T13:49:42.890-07:00ChallengesLife is a constant challenge.<br /><br />Deal or No Deal is a challenge for TV contestants to guess how much money is in a box. Last year’s Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire was a million dollar challenge to a young man to guess the right answer on a popular TV show in order to leave his impoverished life in the slums of India.<br /><br />L.A. Youth is invited to apply for a challenge grant funded by three major foundations. We have to raise money from new contributors, then the foundations will match it between 100 and 200 percent. Board members and I chatted about the invitation this morning after a discussion re the obstacles and opportunities in a downturn economy. They accepted the challenge. We’re applying for the grant. <br /><br />Every day there’s a different challenge managing the administrative and programmatic tasks of a non-profit organization. Yesterday I learned that one of our long-time donors has ended their support for youth media groups. The challenge is to find another foundation to take their place.<br /><br />Our teen writers in the foster care system face dire challenges when they emancipate at 18. High school seniors face the challenge of securing college loans and scholarships. Parents on the verge of home foreclosure are challenged with finding shelter for the family and fear of becoming homeless.<br /><br />I take the challenges one at a time.Don't Print That!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03291253339396966499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315887355711611517.post-84356524920119253962009-10-21T11:19:00.000-07:002009-10-21T11:20:23.015-07:00Captive VoicesJack Nelson was known as a hard driving, dedicated reporter and bureau chief in the Washington bureau of the Los Angeles Times. To me, he led the seminal work that brought the problems of the high school press to the fore when few were paying attention. Captive Voices was published in 1974 by the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial, a Washington, D.C.-based foundation established to continue the pursuit of societal change that marked Kennedy’s life.<br /><br />In 1973 Senator Edward Kennedy announced the plans of the foundation and created a commission to study the potential of high school journalism in America. The commission focused on censorship of the high school press, lack of participation of minority students on high school press staffs and other issues. Hearings were held across the country and Jack studied 1,725 pages of hearing testimony to write the final report that became Captive Voices.<br /><br />That report led to the creation of the Student Press Law Center and New Expression, an independent teen-written newspaper in Chicago. Jack was pleased when I launched L.A. Youth in 1988 and over the years he continued to be supportive of our newspaper and the potential of high school journalism in America.Don't Print That!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03291253339396966499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315887355711611517.post-9688185814559892782009-10-20T14:09:00.000-07:002009-10-20T14:11:13.812-07:00LAUSD FollyLAUSD school administrators and Superintendent Ramon Cortines ran around the city yesterday knocking on doors looking for students. A great publicity stunt acting like they’re interested in finding drop-outs and truants. Of course, it’s that time of year – they count heads and send the numbers to Sacramento and every body they lure back to school gives the district more money. Now, if only they were concerned the rest of the year.<br /><br />My friend Roshawn published her story in January-February 2006 with a narrative so horrifying of her childhood growing up in shelters and cheap hotels Skid Row I still cry every time I read it. One of the saddest chapters in her life occurred in 2003. She made the long trip from Skid Row to Reseda High School in the San Fernando Valley for two years, until the fall 2003 bus strike. There was no public transportation across the city. She was out of school for six weeks and fell so far behind with her schoolwork that she was forced to drop out.<br /><br />No one called from the Los Angeles Unified School District or tried to locate her. LAUSD officials owe Roshawn an apology.Don't Print That!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03291253339396966499noreply@blogger.com0